Phase angle meter



Feb. 22, 1949. G. w. MGEL m-AL 2,462,213

PHASE ANGLE METER Filed om.l 12. 1946' ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 22, 1949 rmsE'ANGLl-z METER George W. Nagel and Mortimer- A. Schultz, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a oomration oi' Pennsylvania Application October ylit, 1948, Serial No. llil)3,ilii`8 10 Claims.

This invention relates to devices responsive to the phase displacement between a plurality of alternating quantities, and it has particular relation to measuring instruments ,for measuring the phase angle between a pair of alternating electrical quantities.

Devices responsive to the phase displacement between a plurality of alternating quantities are widely employed. In typical devices of this type, a stator assembly may be employed together with a rotor assembly which is mounted for rotation with respect to the stator assembly. One of these assemblies includes a polyphase coil assembly for producing 'a rotating magnetic iield. Such a field may be produced by mounting two coils at right angles to each other and energizing these coils by electrical currents whichdifler in phase by 90. The other assembly includes a singlephase coil which is disposed in the rotating magnetic eld. When the device is employed for measuring power factor, it is common practice to provide the single-phase coil assembly on the stator assembly and to mount the polyphase coil assembly for rotation with respect to the stator assembly. Power factor meters embodying such a construction are illustrated and discussed in various books on electrical measuring instruments. See, for example, Electrical Measurements" by F. A. Laws, 1917 edition, pp. 532 to 535, published by McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York city. If the device is to be employed for measuring the phase angle between a pair of alternating electrical voltages, the coilassembly for producing u which the rotor assembly plied to the rotor assembly ls equal to zero. This assembly may occupy an angular position on.

either side of its correct position, wherein the resultant torque applied to the rotor assembly is insumcient to overcome static friction. In some conventional phase angle meters, the position in 2 v comes to rest may vary over an angular range or dead space of 4, An error of this magnitude is objectionable in many applications of devices responsive to phase dis-A placement of alternating quantities.

The torque develop'ed between each coil -of the polyphase coil assembly and the'singlef-phase coil is dependent on the magnitudes of the electrical currents traversing the coils, on the angular mechanical displacement of the coils, and on the electrical phase displacementvbetween the currents traversing the coils. (For avfuller mathematical analysis of the torque see the aforesaid book by Laws.) It is possible to increase the torque acting` on the rotor assembly by increasing the currents supplied by the coils and this would tend to decrease the error of the device. However. an increase in current is restricted by the heat dissipating properties oi' the coils of the device.

In accordance with the invention, the torque developed between each coil of the polyphase coilassembly and the single-phase coil is modified by distorting or shifting the phase displacement be, tween electrical currents traversing the coils when the rotor assembly is displaced slightly from its correct position. By suitable control of this phase displacement, the. resultant torque acting on the rotor assembly in the region adjacent the correct position thereof may be increased appreclably without increasing the magnitudes of the currents traversing the coils. -This facilitates a substantial reduction in the dead space or error of thedevice. It has been found possible to reduce this dead space from an angular range of 4- to less than 1 of mechanical rotation in one commercial form of this device.

The desired control of the phase displacement may be ellected by adding to one of the assemblies, such asthe single-phase coil assembly an auxiliary alternating current having a phase relative to the alternating quantity energizing the polyphase coil assembly which is dependent on the position of the rotor assembly with respect to stator assembly.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved device which is responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating quantities.

- It is a. further object of the invention to provide a device responsive to the phase displacement between a pair of alternating quantities wherein errors resulting irorrlv static friction are minimized.

It is another object of the invention to providea device responsive to the phase displacement be tween two alternating quantities wherein a pair of relatively rotatable coil assemblies are disposed for energization respectively by the alternating quantities, and wherein the energization of one of the coil assemblies by a rst one of the alterhating quantities is augmented by an auxiliary energization which bears a phase relationship to a second one of the alternating quantities dependent on the relative positions oi' the coil assemblies.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa view in perspective with parts broken away of adevice responsive to the phase displacement between a plurality of alternating quantities.

Fig. 2 is a graphical representation showing -torque characteristics of a prior art device which is responsive to the phase displacement between a pair of alternating quantities.

Fig. 3 is a graphical representation showing torque characteristics of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a system responsive to the phase displacement between a pair of alternating quantities which embodies the invention.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vector diagrams showing phase conditions present in the system of Fig. 4 under conditions of operation, and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of a system embodying a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a device which is responsive to the phase displacement between a pair of alternating electrical quantities. This device includes a stator or polyphase coil assembly I and a rotor or singlephase coil assembly 2. The stator assembly includes a pair of coils 3 `and 5 which are disposed at right angles to each other. When these coils are energized respectively by electrical currents displaced in phase by 90, a rotating magnetic field is produced thereby. 'Ihe rotor assembly 2 includes a coil 1 arranged for energization by a single-phase alternating quantity and mounted on a shaft 9 for rotation in the aforesaid rotating magnetic field. The shaft 9 may be positioned for rotation in suitable bearings II and I3. Since the coil 1 is disposed for rotation with respect to the stator assembly, connections thereto are effected through conductors which do not interfere with the desired rotation. For example, one terminal I5 of the coil 1, together with the shaft 8, pass through openings in the coils 3 and 5, and the terminal I5 is connected to the inner end of a flexible, spiral conductor strip or ligament I1. The inner end of the ligament I1 is attached to an insulating bushing I9 which in turn is attached to the shaft 9. The outer end of the ligament I1 may be connected to any desired electrical circuit. It will be understood that a separate ligament is provided for each of the terminals of the coil 1.

The rotor assembly 2 also is provided with a pointer 2| which is disposed for rotation adjacent a scale (not shown). The pointer indicates the angular position of the coil 1 with respect to the stator assembly, and if the device is to be employed for measuring phase displacement, the scale may be calibrated in terms of such phase displacement. The structure of Fig. 1 thus far described speciiically is well known in the art. When the coils 3 and 5 are energized in accordance with a first alternating quantity and the coil 1 is energized in accordance with a second alternating quantity, the coil 1 is urged toward a position which corresponds to the phase displacement between the alternating quantities. If the coils 3 and 5 are energized from a single-phase alternating quantity, they may be energized through a suitable phase splitter for providing the desired rotating magnetic ileld. Suitable circuit connections will be discussed below.

Fig. 1 also shows a coil 23 which is mounted on the shaft 8. Ligaments similar to the ligaments y first alternating quantity and the coil 1 is energized from a second alternating quantity in accordance with prior art practice, a torque characteristic curve 26 is obtained which is similar to that shown in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2-abscissae represent the angular displacement of the coil 'I from lthe correct or rest position (0) which the coil should occupy to denote the phase displacement between the two alternating quantities. Ordinates represent the torque applied to the coil 1. It will be noted thatyvhen the coil 1 is displaced from its correct position (0) in either direction, a torque is developed which urges the coil towards the correct position. The torque decreases as the coil approaches its correct position and becomes zero when the coil is correctly positioned.

In the device of Fig. 1 a substantial amount of static friction is present. This includes the friction of the bearings II and I3 and the friction introduced by the ligaments I1. The static friction isl represented in Fig. 2 by dotted lines 21 and 29. The portion of the curve 26 which falls between the lines 21 and 28 represents torques which are too small in magnitude to overcome the static friction of the device. The horizontal distance which corresponds to this portion of the curve 26 indicates the extent of error of the device and is labeleddead space in Fig. 2. In a conventional instrument, this dead space may cover an angular movement of the coil 1 of the order of 4.

In accordance with the invention, a characteristic curve is provided which is similar to the curve 3| of Fig. 3. In Fig. 3, ordinates and abscissae are similar to those employed for Fig. 2. It will be noted in Fig. 3 that the slope of the curve 3i as it passes through the correct or "rest position (0) of the moving coil is substantially greater than the slope of the corresponding portion oi the curve 26. Consequently,

the dead space represented by the curve 3| is Y materially less than that represented by the curve 26 of Fig. 2. As previously pointedout. it is possible by following the teachings of the invention to reduce the dead space to less than 1 of angular movement of the coil 1.

A system which is responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities and which has a characteristic similar to that of Fig. 3 is illustrated in Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 4, a device 33 is provided which corresponds to the device of Fig. 1 except for the omission of the coil 23. The coils 2 and l in Fig. 4 are connected for energization through a suitable' phase splitter in accordance with an alternating electrical voltage E1. The phase splitter may be of any desired construction. For the purpose of illustration, the phase splitter in Fig. 4 is represented by an inductance coil 35 t If the resistor 31 has a valueof resistance which is large compared to the inductive reactance of 1 the coil 5, the current passing through Vthe coil 5 is substantially in. phase with the voltage Ei.

On the other hand. the current passing through the coil 3 lags the voltage E1 by substantially Consequently, when the voltage E1 is applied to the terminals 36, thecoils 3 and 5 set up a rotating field within which the coil 1 is mounted for rotation.

If the available energy is small,. amplifiers may-be employed for energizing the coils of the device. In Fig. 4, the coil 1 is disposed for energization from an amplier 39 which has an input voltage E2 applied thereto. The amplifier 39 may be of any conventional constructionxpro-` viding it has substantially zero phase shift at the frequency of the voltages to be measured. For the purpose of illustration, the amplifier includes an electronic amplier tube 4| which has a plate 43, a grid 45 and a cathode 41. A second ampliner tube 49 is provided which includes a plate a grid 53, and a cathode 55. The cathodes 41 and 55 may be energized from any suitable sources which here are' represented bv batteries 51. For the purpose of providing self- Abias for the tubes 4| and 49, the cathodes of ,through a conductor 99. the resistor 95. ground The voltage E2 is appliedv 1 with respect to the coils 3 and 5. Since the coil 1Ais disposed in a rotating magnetic field. a voltage is induced in this coil which has a phaserelative to the voltage E1 dependent on the position of the coil with respect to the associated coils 3 and 5. Consequently, this induced voltage may be employed for producing the'desired characteristic curve. The voltage induced in the coil 1 appears across the output terminals 85 and 81 of the bridge, and these output terminals are connected to the primary winding` of a transformer 89.

Although the output of the transformer 89 maybe applied directly to the input of the ampliiler 39, it is generally desirable to provide mechanism for adjusting the phase of the auxiliary voltage supplied to the input of the amplier with respect tothe voltage induced in the coil 1. For this purpose the terminals of the secondary winding of the transformer 99 are connected respectively through a capacitor 9| and an adjustable resistor 93 to one terminal of the resistor 95. The remaining terminal of the resistor 95 is connected through ground to a center tap on the secondary winding of the transformer `89. By adjusting the resistor 93 thel phase of the voltage across the resistor 95 may be varied with respect to the voltage induced in the coil 1. The resistor 95qalso is provided with an adjustable tap 91. An adjustable portion of the voltage drop across the resistor 95 is applied to the input of the amplifier 39 through the conductor 99,y resistor 65, and ground. The operation of the system illustrated in Fig. 4"may be considered with particular reference to the vector diagrams of Figs. 5 and 6. Let it be assumed that the volty ages Erand E2 are in phase. The coil 1 is then and the biasing resistor 59 to the cathode 41.

Plate voltage for the tube 4| is supplied in any desired manner as by a battery 61 which has its positive terminal connected through a plate resistor 68 to the plate 43. The tube 4| is coupled to the tube 49 through a coupling capacitorl69 and a grid resistor 1I. Plate voltage for the tube I9 is supplied by a battery. which has itsI positive terminal connected `through the primary winding of an output transformer to the plate 'I'he secondary winding of the output transformer 'i5 is connected to the coil 1 through 'a balanced Wheatstone bridge 11. The coil 1 is disposed in one arm of the Wheatstone bridge and a similar coil 19 may be provided in e. second arm of the bridge. Two identical resistors 8| and 83 may ,be employed in the remaining arms of the bridge. The input terminals of the bridge are connected to the terminals of the secondary winding of the output transformer 15. Consequently, the coil 1 is Venergized in accordance with the output of the amplier 39. However, since the bridge 11 is a balanced bridge, a voltage across the secondary winding of the transformer 15 does not produce a voltage across -the output terminals 85, 81 of the bridge.

If the system thus far specically described with reference to Fig. 4 were to be employed, a characteristic curve would be obtained which is similar to the curve shown in Fig. 2. In order to obtain a characteristic curvelsimilar to that shown in Fig. 3, auxiliary energy is supplied to the coil 1 which has a phase relative to the voltage Ei dependent on the position of the coil urged towards a correct or rest position wherein the plane of the coil1 is parallel to the plane of the coil 5. Under these conditions, a vector diagram similar to that of Fig. 5 may be obtained.

In Fig. 5 the voltages E1 and E2 are in phase. The adjustment of the resistor 93 is such that the auxiliary voltage Egt-supplied to the amplifier 39 by the conductor 99,resistor 65 and ground is in phase opposition to the voltage E1. The resultant input voltage Ea to the amnliiler 39 .is the vector sum of the voltage E2 and E3 and is shown in Fig. 5. This voltage En is amplified and supplied to the coil 1.

With the, parts in the positions described in the preceding paragraph, let it be assumed that the input voltage E2 changes in phase relative to the voltage E1 by an angle 9. voltage E3 were not provided, the torque applied to the coil1 would be a function of the angle 0 and would have a relatively small Value. However, as shown in Fig. 6, the auxiliary voltage Ea adds v'ectorially to the voltage E2 to provideA the resultant voltage En which is displaced in phase from the voltage E1 by a large angle 11.. Since the l voltage ER in Fig. 6 is displaced `from the voltage E1 4by a large angle 4r, the torque applied to the coil 1 is much greater than the torque which would be available if l thevoltage Enl were displaced iln phase by the relatively small angle 0 from the voltage E1. Under the influence of this substantial torque, the coil 1 moves to a new position which corresponds to the phase displacement between the voltages E1 and E2. As the coil^1 moves from a position parallel to the coil 5 to its new position, the voltage induced therein changes in phase with respect to the Vvoltage of E1. Consequently,.the voltage E3 rotates to a new position Ea which is in phase opposition relative to If the auxiliary the voltage En when the coil 1 is in its new correct or rest position. The vector sum of thevoltage Ea and the auxiliary voltage Ea' gives a resultant voltage Ea' which is in phase with the voltage Ez. Therefore, the coil 1 takes a position which corresponds accurately to the phase displacement between the voltages E1 and Ez. From a consideration of Figs. and 6, it will be seen that the effect of the auxiliary voltage Ea is to increase the slope of the characteristic torque curve adjacent to the correct or rest position of the movable coil l in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. As

previously explained, by following the teachings of the invention it has been found possible to reduce the dead spaceof the phase responsive device to less than1.

If desired, an auxiliary pickup coil may be connected to the coil 1 for rotation therewith, and this auxiliary coil may be located in a rotating magnetic field similar to the magnetic field produced by the energization of the coils 3 and 5. 'I'he auxiliary coil then may be employed for supplying the auxiliary voltage En to the input of the amplifier 39. A system embodying this modiiication is illustrated in Fig. 7.

Referring to Fig. 7, a device IBI' is disclosed which may be identical to the device shown in Fig. 1. The coils 3 and 5 again are energized in accordance with the voltage E1 through a suitable phase splitter. phase splitter is illustrated as including a capacitor |03 and a resistor |95. Because of the presence of the capacitor |03, a current flows through the coil 3 'which leads the voltage E1. By properly proportioning the inductance of the coil 5 and the resistance value of the resistor |05, a current flows through the coil 5 which lags the voltage E1 by an amount suicient to bring the currents flowing through the coils 3 and 5 into quadrature. It should be understood that the calibration of the instrument |0| may be modi- In the case of Fig. 7, the l 1. Ina device responsive to the phase displacement between. two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic field, va member mounted for rotation relative to said means in said magnetic field, said member being responsive to energization by a second alternating quantity for producing in coaction with said rotating magnetic field a force which urges said member towards a correct P0- sition dependent on the phase displacement of said alternating quantities, means for deriving from said first alternating quantity an auxiliary alternating quantity, said auxiliary quantity having a phase displacement relative to Vsaid first alternating quantity dependent on the position of said member in said rotating magnetic field, and means for applying said auxiliary alternating quantity to said member to expedite actuation ofsaid member towards said correct position.

2. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic eld, a coil, means mounting said coil vfor rotation relative to said first-named means fied, depending on the specific type of phase splitter employed.

In Fig. '7, the coil l is energized directly from the output terminals of the amplifier 39. The auxiliary coil 23 is connected in series with the grid resistor 65. Consequently, the voltage applied to the amplifier 39 is equal to the vector sum of the voltage E2 and the voltage induced in the pickup coil 23. The phase of the voltage induced in the pickup coil 23 may be varied with respect to the voltage E1 by rotating the coil 23 as desired about its shaft 9. Consequently, no additional phase adjusting mechanism `isrequired ior the system illustrated in Fig. 7. It is believedthat the operation of the modification illustrated in Fig. 7 will be apparent from the discussion of the operation of the system illustrated in Fig. 4.

By proper spacing or other procedures well understood in the-art, the coupling between the coils l and 23 preferably is kept low in order to avoid cross-pickup between the coils. If desired, the coil 23 could be located in space quadrature relative to the coil 1 to eliminate crosspickup and the output of coil 23 maybe passed through a conventional variable phase shifter to obtain the necessary phase adjustment.

Although the invention has been discussed with reference to various specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications are possible. Therefore, the invention is to be restricted only by the appended claims as interpreted in view of the prior art.

We claim as our invention:

in said magnetic eld, means responsive to a vsecond alternating quantity for rotating the coll towards a position in the magnetic field determined by the phase relationship between the first and second electrical quantities, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic ,field which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance with the position of said coil relative to said first-named means, and means controlled 'by said voltage for supplying auxiliary alternating energy to said coil. l

3. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic field, a coil,`means mounting said coil for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic field, means responsive to a second alternating quantity for rotating the coil towards a position in the magnetic field determined by the phase relationship between the first and second electrical quantities, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance with the positionv of said coil .relative to said first-named means, means controlled by said voltage for supplying auxiliary alternating energy to said coil, and means for adjusting the phase relationship between said auxiliary alternating energy and said first alternating quantity.

4. In a device responsive tothe phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic field, a coil, means mounting said coil for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic field, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance with the position of said coil relative to said first-named means, means for energizing said coil in accordance with a second alternating quantity, said last-named means comprising means for deriving from'said coil an alternating quantity controlled only by` said voltage. and means controlled by said lastnamed alternating quantity for applying to said coil auxiliary energy.

5. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means eiective when energized by a iirst alternating quantity for producing a. rotatingI magnetic field, a coil, means mounting said coil for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic eld, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic eld which varies in phase relative to said rst alternating quantity in accordance with the position of said coil relative to said first-named means, means for energizing said coil in accordance with a second alternating quantity, said last-named means comprising impedance means associated with said coil for forming therewith a bridge circuit having input terminals and having output terminals, said coil being disposed in an arm'of said bridge circuit whereby said voltage `appears across said output terminals, and meansl controlled by the voltage across said output terminals for supplying auxiliary alternating energy to said input terminals.

6. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic ileld, a. coll, means mounting said coil for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic field, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said rst alternating quantity in accordance with the position of said coil relative to said first-named means, means for energizing said coil in accordance with a second alternating quantity, said last-named means comprising impedance means associated with said coil for forming therewith a bridge circuit having input terminals and having output terminals, said coil being disposed in an arm of said bridge circuit whereby said voltage appears across said output terminals, means controlled by the voltage across said output terminals for supplying auxiliary alternating energy to said input terminals, and phase adjusting means for adjusting the phase of said auxiliary alternating energy relative to said rst alternating quantity.

'7. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first a1- ternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic field, a coil, means mounting said coil for rotation relativel to said rst-named means in said magnetic iield, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance ywith the position of said coil relative to said rst-named means, means for energizing said coil in accordance with a second alternating quantity, said last-named means comprising impedance means associated withsaid coil for formingtherewith a bridge circuit having input terminals and having output terminals, said coil being disposed in an arm of said bridge circuit whereby said voltage appears across said output terminals, and means controlled by the voltage across said output terminals for supplying to said inputterminals an auxiliary alternating energy which is in phase opposition to the second alternating quantity when said coil is correctly positioned relative to said first-named means in accordance with the phase displacement between said iirst and second alternating quantities,

8. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means eiective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic field, a coil, means mounting said coil for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic eld, said coil having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said rst alternating quantity in accordance with the p osition of said coil relative 4to said first-named means, means for energizing said coil in accordance with a second alternating quantity, said last-named means comprising impedance means associated with said coil for forming therewith a bridge circuit having input terminals and having output terminals, said coil being disposed in an arm of said bridge circuit whereby said voltage appears across said output terminals, an ampliiler connected between said output and said-input terminals for delivering to said input terminals auxiliary alternating energy controlled by said voltage, and means for adjusting the phase relationship between said auxiliary alternating energy and one ofsald alternating quantities.

9. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic iield, a pair of coils, means mounting said coils for rotation relative to said first-named means in said magnetic field, a ilrst one of said coils having a voltage induced therein Aby said magnetic field which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance with theposition of said rst one of said coils relative to said first-named means, means for energizingv a second one of said coils in accordance with a second alternating quantity, and means responsive to said voltage for additionally energizing said rst one of said coils.

10. In a device responsive to the phase displacement between two alternating electrical quantities, means effective when energized by a first alternating quantity for producing a rotating magnetic eld, a pair of coils, means mounting said coils for rotation relative to said rstnamed means in said magnetic iield, a iirst one of said coils having a voltage induced therein by said magnetic iield which varies in phase relative to said first alternating quantity in accordance with the position of said first one of said coils relative to said first-named means, means for energizing a second one of said coils in accordance with a second alternating quantity, and means including an amplier responsive to said voltage for additionally energizing said first one of said coils, said iirst one of said coils being ad justable about its axis of rotation relative to said The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,073,632 Robinson Sept. 23, 1913 1,318,126 Angus Oct. 7, 1919 1,621,006 Evans Mar. 15, 1927 1,641,693 Price Sept. 6, 1927 2,288,628 Lee July 7, 1942 

